CHEMISTRY 16.1
Chemistry for the Consumer
Syllabus
Fall 2010
Chemistry for the Consumer (CHEM 16.1, 1 credit) is the laboratory component
of the Perspectives in Liberal Arts and Science (PLAS) lecture course: Chemistry
in Modern Society (CHEM 16.3, 3 credits) . This course satisfies the natural
science lab requirement, It is designed to bring chemistry alive by giving students
hands on experience with the chemical principles and reactions studied in the
lecture course. Students do experiments which are designed to be interesting,
informative, and create curiosity about chemical behavior.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
E-mail:
Professor Gerald Koeppl
Remsen 119A
Friday, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., Remsen 119A
gkoeppl@qc.cuny.edu
COURSE INFORMATION
Meeting Time:
Room:
Tuesday, 2:40 - 5:30 p.m.
Remsen Annex 151
Laboratory Manual:
Chemistry for the Consumer, 5th Ed.. Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Queens College of the City University of New
York, 2010.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
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Laboratory safety goggles must be worn at all times while working in the
laboratory.
All waste (solids and liquids) are to be placed in labeled waste bottles.
Nothing goes down the drain.
Bring the following items from home: laboratory manual, a small container
of dish detergent, and paper towels.
GOALS
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Learn the names and purpose of glassware and equipment used in the
chemistry laboratory, and the techniques required to use them.
Obtain "hands on" experience with chemical principles and reactions
studied in the lecture associated with this course.
Learn how do to use quantities measured in the laboratory to calculate
physical properties and chemical concentrations.
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Learn how to prepare clear and concise reports which describe your
laboratory work.
Learn how chemical methods can be used to measure the effectiveness of
consumer products and the impact of chemicals on the environment.
SCHEDULE OF EXPERIMENTS
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Experiment
Check in and Unit 1: Density
Unit 2: Color and spectra
Unit 3: Chemical and physical changes
Unit 4: Acids, bases, and pH
Unit 5: The acid content of vinegar and fruit juice
Unit 6: The acid neutralizing capacity of antacid remedies
Unit 7: The hypochlorite content of laundry bleaches
Unit 8: Molecular models and isomers
Unit 9: Soaps and detergents
Unit 10: The sugar content of food
Unit 11: Aspirin synthesis and purification
Unit 12: Vitamin C content of juices and beverages
Unit 13: The comparison of felt-tip inks using paper
chromatography
Check out*. No laboratory work
*If you drop the course you must check-out of the laboratory or you will incur a
charge of $50 plus the cost of any broken or missing items in your kit.
GRADING
The overall grade for the laboratory will be determined as follows:
70% for laboratory reports (lowest lab grade will be dropped);
20% for quizzes and exams; and
10% for preparation for lab, experimental technique, and
etiquette
Letter grades will be assigned using the Queens College grade scale.
LABORATORY REPORTS
Lab reports are due at the class meeting which follows the scheduled week for
the experiment. Late reports will incur a penalty.
The report should be typed and include the following:
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The name of the experiment, your name and the date on which you
performed the experiment.
Purpose: A few sentences describing what you are attempting to do in this
experiment.
Procedure: Brief descriptions of what you actually did in the laboratory. Do
not copy this directly from the manual.
Data/Observations: Neatly present the measurements and observations
you obtained during the experiment. You must include the Data Report for
the experiment which has been initialed by the instructor. Also present the
results of any calculations that are required. Include a sample calculation if
necessary to show how the calculations were done.
Answer any questions posed in the write-up for the experiment as the final
part of your report.
You are encouraged to include additional comments or conclusions that you
considerate pertinent. Your report must be based on observations and
measurements performed by you in the laboratory.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
An absence from the lab will in general result in a loss of the 25 points for that
lab. You will only be able to make up a lab if you have a very good excuse for
your absence. Examples of acceptable excuses include religious holidays or an
illness that you can document. If you will miss a laboratory because of a
religious observance, you must inform the instructor in writing before the
absence. Since there are multiple sections of lab, it may be possible to make up
a lab by attending another section. However, you can not just go to another
section. You must obtain permission and a note from your lab instructor. You will
not be able to work in another section without the presentation of this note and
the permission of the instructor of this section.